Thomas on site in Culham.

Thomas Dominguez Walker, Assistant Cybernetics Engineer at UKAEA, based at the Culham Campus, has been named Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the Nuclear Skills Awards 2026.

13 March 2026: Thomas Dominguez Walker, an apprentice for the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) based at the Culham Campus, has been named Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the 18th Nuclear Skills Awards 2026.

Thomas was recognised for his attitude, technical ability, and hard work during his Level 3 apprenticeship, which saw him assigned to projects for the Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo), which is accelerating the deployment of robotics and AI in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.

The UK Nuclear Skills Awards, organised by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) and Cogent Skills, showcase the excellence and achievements of individuals and companies across the nuclear sector. Winners were announced at an event in Manchester on 12 March 2026.

For his apprenticeship, Thomas undertook 18 months of three-month placements across the UKAEA, including three months at RACE, the UKAEA’s centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments. This was followed by a dedicated 18-month placement at RACE, including a year with RAICo, a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, the University of Manchester, and AWE Nuclear Security Technologies. 

His role involved providing technical support to the organisation’s R&D projects, focusing on developing solutions to robotics and AI challenges. During his apprenticeship, he also completed a Higher National Certificate, a Level 4 vocational qualification equivalent to the first year of a university degree, gaining distinctions throughout.

Thomas is a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, supporting events to encourage others to consider apprenticeships and engineering careers. Having finished his apprenticeship, he now has a permanent role at UKAEA and RAICo. 

In a Q&A with RAICo, published recently, Thomas said: “At the end of my apprenticeship, I was nominated by my group leader for the NSAN Advanced Apprentice of the Year. I’m proud to have that recognition, and being selected is genuinely exciting and a fantastic opportunity. 

Getting to this stage takes sustained dedication, developing technical capability and building the soft skills that make projects and collaboration succeed. For me, that’s meant commitment to my apprenticeship studies, delivering on UKAEA and RAICo projects, and actively supporting others.

My qualifications have been challenging and rewarding, giving me recognised qualifications and practical experience. I hope winning the award encourages others to consider an engineering apprenticeship and see what they can do.”

Thomas operating Spot, the robotic quadruped.

James Ferrand, Principal Engineer & Group Leader, UK Atomic Energy Authority, commented: “Thomas has been an absolute pleasure to work with and manage over the last few years. He has really impressed me and built a fantastic reputation for his attitude to work. He has been excellent in picking up new technologies, striving to learn more both about the technology and where his work fits into the wider picture. I personally hold him as an example of the perfect apprentice for others to strive towards. Many congratulations, Thomas!”

ENDS

For further information, please contact: [email protected] 

About RAICo

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) is a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, the University of Manchester, and AWE Nuclear Security Technologies. It aims to accelerate the deployment of robotics and AI in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.

www.raico.org 

Thomas Dominguez-Walker – who recently won a National Skills Academy for Nuclear award – discusses his recently–completed RAICo apprenticeship. 

Name: Thomas Dominguez-Walker

Job Title: Assistant Cybernetics Engineer

Employer:  The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), one of RAICo’s members, based in Culham, Oxfordshire. Thomas works on several RAICo projects from Culham as part of his role with UKAEA.

Apprenticeship Completed: Level 3 Engineering Technician (Product Design and Development), Level 4 Electrical and Electronic HNC.

Please tell us a bit about yourself – where you’re from, where you’re based now and why you chose this career?

I’m Thomas, and I’ve been based in Oxfordshire for 14 years. I’ve wanted to be an engineer for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved taking things apart, understanding how they work, and solving problems, so an engineering career felt like the natural path for me.

I’ve completed a Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship and Level 4 HNC and am now working as an Assistant Cybernetics Engineer at UKAEA, with my work mainly involved with RAICo projects.

How did your apprenticeship come about, and how long have you been there?

I started my engineering apprenticeship at 16, straight after my GCSEs, right after the COVID pandemic. A-Levels weren’t the right fit, so I chose a practical route with UKAEA, attracted by the scheme’s broad, R&D-focused training. I completed a year full-time at college, followed by 3-month placements, which gave me a wide view of the organisation and led me to Cybernetics and Robotics. That experience led to RAICo projects during my apprenticeship and beyond; I’ve now been with UKAEA for about 4½ years, including six months working full-time on RAICo projects as a qualified Assistant Cybernetics Engineer.

What do you do in your role as an Assistant Cybernetics Engineer? What is a typical day like? Are you solely based at the Culham site?

I currently work full-time on RAICo projects at the Culham site. Most of my work sits in R&D, building and improving robotics and control solutions for nuclear tasks, with technology that can be transferred to other sectors. No two days look the same: one day I might be designing, building and testing a remote swabbing platform; another I’m supporting sample handling work in the Materials Research Facility.

A lot of the job is breaking a big project goal into small, solvable problems and working on a small task each day. I’ve got good freedom in how I deliver work (within project requirements), and I collaborate with specialists across the site, drawing on a wide mix of skills—from handson design and testing through to data analysis and documentation. I’m based at Culham full-time, but projects take me into different areas across the site as needed. The role is varied and project-driven, which I really enjoy.

What have you learned in your time here? What is the most interesting thing about your role?

I’ve built up a solid technical foundation through my apprenticeship, but my biggest growth has been both personal and professional. I’ve learnt to communicate across diverse teams, adapt quickly to new environments, and understand how the organisation works. The rotational placements gave me a strong network and the confidence to navigate complex projects, and I’ve learned how valuable a broad, cross‑disciplinary skill set is for effective collaboration—it often comes down to who you know that is available to help.

I think the most interesting thing about my role is how varied it can be; there are so many different ways to approach projects. The variation lets me apply generalised engineering knowledge across multiple areas, which is both challenging and rewarding.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far, and how did you overcome it?

Whilst I did choose to do a Level 4 HNC alongside my Level 3 apprenticeship, it definitely was a challenge at times, balancing two qualifications and day-to-day work.

People may think that apprenticeships are not as academically challenging or intense, but I think otherwise. Balancing work and college deadlines was tough, especially trying to achieve high grades and deliver results on projects. I kept organised, used the support available, and communicated proactively when training timelines needed attention, which helped me complete both with Distinctions and continue to deliver work outside college.

Another challenge was adapting to the 3-month placement scheme that made up a large part of my apprenticeship. I had to adjust to a new team, projects and engineering disciplines regularly. Some departments were extremely busy, while others were quieter. I think staying motivated and establishing routines, asking questions early, and seeking extra responsibility were all ways I was able to make the most of them. This definitely helped improve my adaptability and collaboration skills.

Please tell us about your nomination for Apprentice of the Year (for which you are a finalist, congratulations). What does it take to get that far?

At the end of my apprenticeship, I was nominated by my apprenticeship assessor and group leader for the NSAN Advanced Apprentice of the Year. I’m proud to have that recognition, and being selected as one of three finalists in the industry is genuinely exciting and a fantastic opportunity.

Getting to this stage takes sustained dedication, developing technical capability and building the soft skills that make projects and collaboration succeed. For me, that’s meant commitment to my apprenticeship studies, delivering on UKAEA and RAICo projects, and actively supporting others. It’s the combination of delivery, openness to learn, and peer support that I believe helps someone stand out.

As this is presumably your first role, what do you plan to do in your career? What will you do next?

I’m keeping an open mind because the path that suits me most, Cybernetics, only became clear once I tried it. That being said, I’m interested in a degree apprenticeship or a part-time engineering degree in the future, likely focused on robotics or a combined mechanical/electrical discipline.

For now, I’m prioritising experience and enjoyment in my current role and letting that guide my next steps. Even after completing my apprenticeship, I have plenty of options, and I’m excited to see where my work takes me and what I can accomplish next.

What advice would you give to future apprentices – at UKAEA, and in general?

Keep your options open, and don’t close any doors would be my number one piece of advice. This is definitely helped by proactively asking questions, looking for opportunities and building up a network of colleagues and peers to support you and others.

If you are studying, keep organised and proactively complete work, you’ll thank yourself later on. And sometimes, you just need to go above and beyond to make sure things get done, for qualifications and at work.

Finally, I would say be open to learn and try new things. Don’t worry too much about where you’ll end up, varied placements and a whole apprenticeship course can really change your perspective.

What would you like the public to know about your work, and the work UKAEA does? Are there any misconceptions we can clear up?

Robotics and cybernetics are helping make real-world tasks safer and more efficient, especially where sampling or inspection could expose people to hazards, and much of that development transfers beyond nuclear into other sectors. Through UKAEA and RAICo, the supporting work for fusion programmes and decommissioning is highly applicable to a wide range of industries and problems, broadening the impact of UKAEA and RAICo outside their mission statements.

Apprenticeships are a strong route into engineering, and a very viable option. My qualifications have been challenging and rewarding, giving me recognised qualifications and practical experience. I hope it encourages others to consider an engineering apprenticeship and see what they can do.

The swabbing tool in use at Sellafield

Sellafield’s Remote Technologies Group is the first to use an innovative contamination swabbing tool for quadruped robots, developed through the RAICo collaboration.

Successful deployment shows strong potential to improve safety and efficiency for nuclear health physicists.

3^rd February 2025: Sellafield Ltd. and the Robotics & AI Collaboration (RAICo) have successfully completed the first trial of a specially designed, patent-pending contamination swabbing tool, mounted on a quadruped robot, in an area containing radioactive material. The trial demonstrates how robotics could support routine health physics activities efficiently while reducing the need for people to enter potentially hazardous environments.

Swabbing is a common task at the Sellafield site. The Health Physics Team carries out hundreds of swabs each day in contaminated areas. Using circular paper filters, these swabs monitor radiation levels across a range of surfaces, providing vital data that informs decommissioning strategies and ensures compliance with safety regulations.

The swabbing tool was developed through RAICo – a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd and the wider NDA nuclear estate, the University of Manchester, and AWE Nuclear Security Technologies – as part of its mission to accelerate the deployment of robotics and AI for nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.

A close-up of the swabbing tool

Key to its design is its ability to replicate the complex and dextrous non-linear swabbing motion normally carried out by humans. This is possible due to the unique shape of the attachment, alongside an off-the-shelf haptic controller from Haply Robotics, and custom RAICo-developed software, which captures an operator’s real time hand movements and translates them into commands for Spot’s manipulator.

The deployment was conceived and planned by Sellafield’s Remote Technology Group, which is responsible for evaluating and deploying robotics, AI, and unmanned systems at the site. During the controlled deployment, Spot was sent into a restricted area to inspect a simulated radiological spill and take a physical swab from a mock-contaminated surface.

The robot used the new tool to swab the surface and bring back a sample of blue chalk, used to simulate the contamination. The robot completed the task successfully, showing that a process traditionally performed by humans could potentially be carried out remotely without compromising accuracy or safety.

The successful trial points to the potential for wider use of robotics across Sellafield and the nuclear estate, helping to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and maintain high safety standards in nuclear decommissioning operations.

Deon Bulman, ROV Equipment Programme Lead at Sellafield

Deon Bulman, ROV Equipment Programme Lead, Remote Technologies Group at Sellafield, commented: “Demonstrating a quadruped robot capable of remotely deploying swabbing equipment represents the significant opportunity we have to improve both safety and efficiency for nuclear decommissioning here at Sellafield. 

The quadruped’s agility and stability allow it to access areas that are hazardous for personnel, while intuitive haptic feedback provides precise, human-like manipulation, reducing task time and increasing confidence in the samples collected. Together, these capabilities support faster, safer, and more cost-effective decommissioning operations while pushing forward the adoption of advanced robotics in the nuclear sector.”

Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, Director at RAICo

Dr. Kirsty Hewitson, Director, RAICo, commented: “This deployment is a perfect example of how collaboration between RAICo partners generates significant benefits for end users in the nuclear sector. In this case, innovation developed collaboratively by RAICo members, academic institutions, and companies in the UK supply chain, was trialled at another member’s site to support a specific task that their frontline operators have to deliver every day. 

By working as a single, integrated team, we are all avoiding duplication and together we are delivering greater value from the public investment of taxpayer money. Furthermore, the deployment at Sellafield follows a similar successful inactive test at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility in Culham earlier in 2025, suggesting that this new technology could have an impact on both nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering sites.” 

Ewan Scholefield, Systems Engineer, Remediation, Engineering and Maintenance, Sellafield, who originated the idea of using Spot in emergency scenarios, commented: “Deployments like this demonstrate how quickly the use of robotics is moving in the nuclear decommissioning industry. People are starting to recognise the versatility of robots like Spot and how they can be used to carry out a whole range of tasks. 

This is being accelerated through the availability of bespoke tools, attachments, and interfaces like those produced by RAICo that enable robots to mimic specific human movements, such as swabbing.”

For further information, please contact: [email protected] 

About RAICo

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) is a collaboration between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, the University of Manchester, and AWE Nuclear Security Technologies. It aims to accelerate the deployment of robotics and AI in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.

www.raico.org 

For many, the big January tech event is CES in Las Vegas. Those working in nuclear decommissioning might disagree.

They chose to spend the 22nd of January in Cumbria, at the RAICo Academic Showcase, to learn about various academic projects on robotics and AI for decommissioning challenges.

Mel Willis, Robotics Research Lead at Sellafield Ltd, summed up the day in her keynote as “showcasing projects at the forefront of innovation in aerial, ground and underwater robots and AI”.  She urged attendees “to engage with the brains in the room, and discuss your potential use cases, so that today’s cutting edge becomes business as usual on nuclear sites.” 

Walking the floor of RAICo1 – RAICo’s main facility, where the event was hosted – gave attendees insight into eleven academic projects, some recently started, some at higher technology readiness levels and eyeing real-world deployment.

Let’s take a look at what they saw.

An immersive VR inspection robot

Attendees entering RAICo1 were met first with a robot that looks like a small go-kart. This wheeled robot – a project led by the University of Strathclyde – integrates cameras and purpose-built ultrasonic sensors, so that remote operators can ‘see what the robot sees’ via a VR headset. That creates an immersive experience that lets them get up close and personal with hazardous environments – with neat features such as overlaying historical data onto the video feed – all from a safe distance.

Seeing when the lights go out

Cameras mounted on robots give visual information when the lighting is good. But many robots on nuclear sites need to navigate pitch black abandoned buildings. So, the University of Manchester is developing a tool to turn an infrared camera feed from a robot into a clearer image, using machine learning to clear up noise. That can then feed back to the robot to help it navigate in the dark.

Collaborative quadrupeds 

Next, we came to a perennial decommissioning favourite – robot quadrupeds. This University of Manchester project explored how multiple quadrupeds could work together to move bulky material on a nuclear site.

The system lets users set an instruction, such as drawing a path for the bulky item to be transported along. The quadrupeds then ‘talk’ to each other to work out how to move their legs and manipulators to support the object’s path – imagine two humans moving a table up a flight of stairs, constantly readjusting their position and grip. This is possible thanks to a complex mix of mathematical models for robot control and spatial awareness.

A slithering, serpentine servant

Not all land robots move on wheels or legs. The University of Nottingham’s snake robot is designed to slide through pipes and crawlspaces. It is mounted with a controllable sensor head – not dissimilar to that of a real snake – which can look around and collect video and data in all directions.

This innovation was noted by Luke Ankers at AWE Nuclear Security Technologies, who cited a potential use case of sending the snake to inspect an oily crawl space located under a large X-ray system.

Plumbing the depths

Some of the biggest challenges on sites like Sellafield are underwater fuel ponds, which are dark, cluttered and hard to navigate. So climbing a flight of stairs to RAICo’s water tank, we found two projects to address this.

The first, by The University of Manchester, brought together a team of surface and underwater vehicles. The surface vehicle helps its submerged partner with positioning and communication – mitigating the challenges of underwater vehicles sending data signals through different mediums and when visibility is reduced.

The second, from the University of Glasgow, uses AI for rapid 3D mapping of underwater environments, turning a camera feed from the underwater vehicle into a 3D map in seconds.

Longer lasting drones

Next, we look to the air. Drones are proving transformational for high up inspection. However, they are severely limited because their batteries don’t last long in flight. Two University of Manchester projects are trying to address this.

One has developed a system that allows drones to attach themselves to infrastructure, allowing them to power down their energy-hungry propellers while making their measurements, and so vastly extend inspection time.

The other is exploring using a ground charging vehicle. The small, remotely controlled platform can rove around a site and launch the drone for inspection as needed. When its battery gets low, the drone locates the platform using a shared model, and lands on its charging pad – where it can be powered up while it travels to its next mission.

Smarter robot arms

Not all robots move around. Some are fixed robot arms used for things like cutting and polishing. Three University of Manchester projects in this field were presented.

One is a model to control robot arms to efficiently direct cutting lasers for the size reduction of solid nuclear waste. In the showcase demonstration, operators uploaded a cutting path for the laser to follow. But the long-term goal is an automated system that receives high-level goals (‘cut this skip so it fits into a 1m2 space’) and the laser automatically works out the best path, adapting to its environment.

A separate project is looking at automated polishing of samples collected from radioactive areas – currently done by humans through gloveboxes. Attendees watched as a robot arm inside a glovebox collected a sample and pushed it against a polishing disc – then moved it across to a microscope to check the finish via a video link.

By using a haptic controller and spring-loaded platform, the robot can achieve human levels of pressure control when performing the polishing. The longer-term goal is to automate much of this process.

Of course, some robot arms will always need human control. So a final demonstration showed how a team from The University of Manchester were translating human hand movement to robot arms using a haptic device. That should make robot teleoperation – where a human operator controls a robot remotely – more natural and efficient.

Want to learn more?

Summing up the importance of the technologies on display, Dr Salvador Pacheco-Gutierrez, Head of RAICo Technology, said:

“Academic research is key to the RAICo programme – solving complex problems that speed deployment of robotics onto decommissioning sites and, in future, into fusion engineering. Our combination of the best academic minds in robotics and AI, with end users on nuclear sites, is what enables us to create deployable technologies that solve real problems.”

In this article, we have provided a very brief overview of the projects on display at the RAICo Academic Showcase. These are at various stages of progress towards their goals, but all have their eyes firmly on real decommissioning challenges – as well as future potential for fusion engineering.

Those wishing to know more about any of these projects can contact [email protected] or sign up to the RAICo newsletter, where we spotlight projects and share news of progress and deployments.

Drones mounted with cameras and sensors are ideal for the inspection of elevated structures and confined spaces. In recent years, they have been adopted by industries from construction to oil & gas for structural assessment, asset monitoring, and safety inspections. They remove the need for humans to climb onto roofs and into shafts – with all the associated safety assessments and temporary infrastructure – and in some cases open areas for inspection that are not reachable by conventional means.

But deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle in a controlled area – a zone with safety rules to minimise human radiation exposure – needs careful planning and consideration. 

This is the case in JET (Joint European Torus) at the Culham Campus, which was formerly a world-leading fusion research facility, and is now in the early stages of being decommissioned and repurposed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), under the JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) programme.

Due to JET’s complex, crowded, and highly sensitive environments, the use of drones had been highly restricted, despite the obvious value of remote inspection. But late in 2025, history was made with the first JET inspection drone flights – first in October as a derisking exercise in the JET in-vessel training facility, then in the JET Assembly Hall, and finally around the exterior of the JET Torus itself, between 25 and 26 November.

The project takes shape

The flights were jointly conducted to gather data to serve the needs of four parties. The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) led a project to conduct inspection flights, with the aim of gathering safety inspection data and establishing the processes to support future inspections as it proceeds along its decommissioning journey. 

At the same time, a separate collaboration between UKAEA’s RACE, Eni and EniProgetti, supported by RINA, explored how they could use drones, alongside other inspection systems, to enable rapid checks of fusion devices and help verify system readiness. This approach aims to significantly shorten the time required for these assessments, a critical step for meeting the stringent reliability standards demanded by commercial fusion power plants. They were also keen to further understand the use of aerial drones for rapid inspection of fusion facilities, to complement ground-based inspection techniques.

The teams came together to conduct joint flights to meet their respective goals.

To ensure safety, the teams conducted a detailed risk assessment, secured access permissions, completed local inductions and implemented safety measures, including post-flight contamination swabbing. 

On the day, the flights used a Flyability Elios 3 drone which undertook over thirty 6-7 minute flights (the limit of a single battery) in the Torus Hall. 

The drone is equipped with built-in camera and LiDAR, and radiation sensors were added as a payload, which let it gather detailed data and high-resolution imagery. It is surrounded by a lightweight soft cage, allowing it to operate near sensitive structures without risk to itself or its surroundings. 

What we learned from flying drones in JET

These flights demonstrated that drones could operate for meaningful durations, manoeuvre safely in cluttered areas, and gather high-quality visual, spatial, and radiation data for inspection and planning.

The test addressed key safety concerns. For example, drone propellers create downdrafts that disturb dust, which can lead to contamination risks. To address this, additional safety processes were implemented to mitigate potential health hazards. These measures built confidence among JDR stakeholders that the drones could be operated safely.

The RAICo team also used the opportunity to carry out a real inspection of high-up junction boxes. That data proved useful, highlighting minor maintenance issues – an unexpected early win.

How these flights support fusion machine maintenance and decommissioning

The flights successfully demonstrated that drone-based imaging and inspection can be performed safely to support JDR activities and provided valuable learnings for future flights.

If adopted, drones could save time and money. For example, they would avoid the need to carefully erect scaffolding to inspect equipment at height, which is time-consuming in a controlled area. The initial inspection data captured from the flight, which has already improved one aspect of maintenance, hints at the wider potential.

These flights and the lessons learned pave the way for aerial drone use at JET, and in fusion engineering and decommissioning more widely. That should lead to enhanced situational awareness, reduced inspection time and downtime, and better data quality that can be easily integrated into a digital environment and artificial intelligence models. All of that will be achieved whilst reducing the need for people to enter harmful environments.

RAICo’s Quadruped Familiarisation Tool (QFT) is reducing robot training risks and costs across three of its members’ nuclear decommissioning sites.

The QFT is a digital training platform which helps operators build confidence with quadruped robots in simulated environments, before working with the real thing. It is designed to expand the pool of skilled operators and accelerate the deployment of these flexible robots into decommissioning facilities.’

The growing demand for quadrupeds in decommissioning

Quadrupeds such as Spot – which are controlled remotely via a handset and video feed – are valuable in hazardous areas on nuclear decommissioning sites. The four-legged robots have the manoeuvrability to navigate stairs and rubble, whilst their body and manipulator arms can be mounted with grippers and sensors for carrying out inspections, moving things around, operating switches and performing tasks that may pose risks to humans.

Rav Chunilal, Head of Robotics and AI at Sellafield Ltd, has noted that “Quadrupeds are making a real difference at Sellafield – and Spot is one of the most versatile and robust bits of kit we have”. And Melanie Brownridge, Chief R&D Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), says “having the right skills in place is also key to accelerate the deployment of these transformational technologies.”

Supporting operators, protecting robots

Quadruped robots remove many of the challenges of sending humans into hazardous environments, but they still take time for operators to get to grips with.

End users at Sellafield report that it can take a new operator three days of training to get completely familiar with the controller handset and the full range of movements of the robot and its manipulator arms, and up to two weeks to become skilled enough to confidently use the robot for a specific task. Most operators train using the robots themselves, and since most sites have a limited number of robots, training operators at scale is slow.

Furthermore, every hour the robot is used for training means the quadruped can’t be used for valuable tasks. It also creates risks – an inexperienced user may accidentally damage the expensive robot or its environment.

To reduce the cost and risk associated with training robot operators using real robots, RAICo developed the Quadruped Familiarisation Tool. This allows multiple operators to be trained in parallel using simulations, not real robots.

Quadrupeds have found many uses on decommissioning sites. Image credit: Sellafield Ltd.

Simulation-led training

Using an off-the-shelf controller similar to the quadrupeds’ own control device, the system replicates robot behaviour in photorealistic simulation environments.

The simulation environment reflects the challenges of navigating nuclear decommissioning environments. It is also possible to build precise digital replicas of specific facilities, letting operators train in exact replicas of their working environments.

Interactive tutorials – similar to those in video games – guide operators through everything from basic motions like standing and walking to advanced tasks such as using manipulator arms, operating cameras, climbing stairs, and even recovering from a fall.

Finally, progress tracking and performance modules enable managers to monitor learning and identify where extra support is needed, or how training can be improved in future.

Robot operators, fully trained on day one

Three units have already been deployed at Sellafield Ltd and two at Dounreay.

Calvin Smye, an engineer in the ROV Equipment Programme at Sellafield Ltd, has noted that the QFT tool has “proven highly beneficial in maintaining maximum competencies among Remotely Operated Vehicle operators” helping them to “practice and refine their skills without risking equipment or human safety, and remain prepared for high-pressure situations, ultimately boosting efficiency and confidence in real-life operations.”

Recently, two modules were provided to AWE, RAICo’s newest member, which will integrate the QFT into its own robotics training programme, supporting its journey towards greater use of advanced robotics for decommissioning – a journey it is accelerating through its membership of RAICo.

Varun Kumar, Team Lead and Senior Robotics Engineer at RAICo, says: “Robotics are only as effective as the people operating them. Tools like the QFT give new operators the chance to build confidence and capability in a safe environment before they touch a real machine. That protects valuable assets and accelerates the safe deployment of robotics across the sector.”

One of RAICo’s stalls at the event.

On 27th November, the Robotics Innovation Showcase came to Manchester, bringing together six organisations representing robotics innovation in the UK, and highlighting the latest advances in robotics and their real-world applications. 

The event welcomed an audience of robotics and AI researchers, students, industry professionals and technology end-users, as well as representatives from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and across government.  

It provided an opportunity for those working across sectors to engage directly with emerging robotics developments, and learn about funding opportunities, and a chance for those involved in the six programmes to demonstrate the real-world impact of robotics funding to government. 

The event was co-organised by The University of Manchester’s Centre for Robotics and AI, which played host, RAICo, CRADLE (Centre for Robotic Autonomy in Demanding and Long-Lasting Environments), RAINZ CDT (EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI for Net Zero), and UK RAS (UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems). 

The showcase also saw the formal launch of the Accelerator for Cumbria and Oxfordshire Robotics in Nuclear (ACORN), which was the sixth organising partner. ACORN offers a range of funding opportunities to accelerate the commercialisation of robotics and AI for nuclear decommissioning, while supporting economic growth and job creation in Oxfordshire and Cumbria. 

With over 300 attendees, the Showcase delivered a packed programme of presentations and demonstrations from each of the six organising partners. 

It was the first time all six organisations have come together to showcase not just their own work but how they all complement each other in advancing UK robotics. 

RAICo representing robotics in nuclear decommissioning 

As one of the partners, RAICo was there to discuss the role of robotics in nuclear decommissioning and the potential from active deployments. Dr Kirsty Hewitson, Dr Salvador Pacheco-Gutierrez, Dr Pawel Ladosz, and RAICo Junior Fellow Diana Benjumea Hernandez all presented to attendees on RAICo’s work.  

Two RAICo1-based researchers contributed demonstrations.

Nathan Shankar showcased research on enabling robots to carry out exploration and inspection tasks in complete darkness.

Dr Zhongmou Li demonstrated a modified UGV and drone from the CORAL project (COllaborative Robot Autonomy and Localisation), which is enabling water, aerial or ground-based robots to collaborate and perform repeatable autonomous inspections of both wet and dry facilities. 

Various Showcase attendees. 

Some comments from attendees

RAICo Director Kirsty Hewitson said: “This event shows how RAICo and these five other robotics programmes are working synergistically – not in silos, but intertwined – using taxpayer-funded support to deliver collective value, benefit and impact. It’s been great to highlight our technical achievements, but this event has really been about demonstrating our shared strategic intent and our commitment to working in a joined-up, responsible way.” 

Deepankar Gahloth, Research Associate at the University of Manchester, said: “The showcase was extremely valuable in raising the national profile of RAICo’s academic theme, strengthening cross-sector relationships, and enabling our researchers and students to receive feedback from end-users and industry stakeholders. Engagement throughout the event was exceptional, with participants responding enthusiastically to the quality, ambition and real-world relevance of the work presented. Crucially, the showcase has already catalysed new opportunities for national collaboration. This kind of cross-sector exchange is essential for accelerating innovation, strengthening UK industrial capability, and developing the next generation of robotics talent.” 

Dr Robert Skilton, Head of Robotics Research & Technology at UKAEA, who attended the event, said:“It’s been an incredible opportunity to connect with the robotics community! Research organisations, academia, industry, and government have come together to share insights and explore future collaboration. This is how we accelerate UK robotics innovation, through partnership and knowledge exchange.” 

Josh MacAlister has been a supporter of RAICo and its endeavours since his election to Parliament as the MP for Whitehaven and Workington in last year’s election. Here we speak to him about his newly released industrial plan for the region, the importance of innovation in nuclear decommissioning, and the role robotics and AI can play in delivering the positive impact he wants to have in West Cumbria.  

Your industrial plan emphasises turning Sellafield’s decommissioning expertise into a springboard for new industries. How do you see robotics helping West Cumbria blend its longstanding heritage in nuclear decommissioning with an innovation-led future? Which adjacent sectors do you think West Cumbria could target?

Robotics is the bridge between our heritage and our future. West Cumbria’s history in nuclear generation and decommissioning has built one of the most capable engineering workforces in the world. The skills we’ve developed – robotics, remote handling, data management – are exactly the ones the clean-tech economy needs next.

The same technologies that safely dismantle legacy nuclear facilities can be redeployed in offshore wind, hydrogen production, advanced manufacturing and even aerospace. By investing in robotics, we can take what we’ve learned at Sellafield and turn it into a global export. That’s how decommissioning becomes a springboard, not an anchor – using it to create new industries that are global, high-tech and low-carbon.

The report calls for a stronger innovation ecosystem linking the UKAEA, UKNNL, and universities, such as Cumbria and Manchester, with local enterprise. What role do you think organisations like RAICo can play in bridging research excellence and commercial opportunity in West Cumbria?

RAICo is central to this next phase. It already demonstrates what can happen when the UKAEA, the nuclear decommissioning industry, and our universities work hand in hand with local enterprise. It brings together the best of our national science base and the energy of local innovators.

In the plan, I talk about linking research excellence directly to commercial outcomes – turning ideas into businesses that stay here and grow here. RAICo does exactly that. It’s helping to translate robotics research into industrial tools and supply-chain contracts. If we scale that model up, West Cumbria becomes not just a site of world-leading science, but a place where that science drives prosperity.

One of the plan’s ambitions is to create an “AI Growth Zone.” How might R&D in nuclear decommissioning environments support this vision and position West Cumbria as a national centre?

Our plan – which is being taken very seriously by the Government – and I am in regular contact with ministers and officials to drive it forward – would make Pioneer Park, adjacent to Sellafield, home to the world’s first nuclear-powered AI and technology hub, fusing two national strengths: clean energy and digital innovation. Small Modular Reactors at Pioneer Park could generate over a gigawatt of clean, reliable power, directly connected to an advanced data-centre and AI infrastructure. That combination – abundant energy, fibre connectivity, and national-level security – makes this one of the most exciting digital opportunities anywhere in the country.

R&D in robotics and nuclear environments feeds naturally into this. The datasets, simulation work and machine-learning models developed for remote operations are exactly what underpin AI in other industries. By linking those capabilities with national initiatives in embodied intelligence and automation, we can position West Cumbria as the UK’s testbed for AI in complex, high-reliability settings – from clean-energy systems to advanced manufacturing. In short, this isn’t just an AI zone in name; it’s where artificial intelligence will power, and be powered by, Britain’s clean-energy revolution.

The report identifies workforce retention and skills as vital to West Cumbria’s future. How can advanced robotics and remote handling technologies make nuclear decommissioning work more attractive to the next generation of engineers and technicians?

Robotics and digital technology make nuclear work cutting-edge again, transforming the job from one of manual risk into one of precision engineering.

For young people, that’s inspiring. It means working with world-class kit, designing intelligent systems, and contributing to a national mission in clean energy. Programmes through the National College for Nuclear, Gen2 and the University of Cumbria are already adapting to this, giving apprentices and graduates the chance to code, operate and innovate from day one. The Cumbria Robotics Operations Skills Centre (CROSS) is another initiative that will support and accelerate skills development.

By showing that West Cumbria’s future lies in technology, not just tradition, we’ll keep our brightest talent here and attract new expertise from across the UK and beyond.

Finally, your plan sets out a vision of West Cumbria as a pioneer community once again. How do you see robotics innovation helping to restore that pioneering spirit while strengthening the region’s identity as a world leader in clean, high-tech industry?

Calder Hall made history as the world’s first commercial nuclear power station. That spirit of invention still runs deep in this community. Robotics and AI give us the opportunity to channel it into the next clean-energy revolution.

Through Pioneer Park and the AI Growth Zone, West Cumbria can once again lead Britain in developing technologies that change the world – clean power, intelligent systems, and industries that combine both.

If we deliver this together – local and national government, industry, and community – we won’t just be managing decline; we’ll be writing the next great chapter in British industrial innovation, led once again from the Cumbrian coast.

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo) is not just pioneering robotics and AI solutions for the UK’s most complex nuclear challenges; it’s also ensuring that the benefits of that innovation are felt close to home.

By working with local Cumbrian partners like Co-Lab Engineering – a team of engineering innovation consultants that helps solve some of the industry’s most complex problems – RAICo is delivering not just technological transformation but also economic and social value to the communities of Cumbria. 

Since late 2024, Co-Lab has been working closely with RAICo to quantify the tangible benefits of its technology-led projects, offering a vital capability: the ability to demonstrate how novel robotics deployments in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering are reducing risk and cost, whilst delivering measurable value for UK taxpayers. 

A Shared Vision Rooted in Cumbria 

The idea of a collaboration emerged during a meeting of the Cumbria Robotics Cluster, powered by the Industrial Solutions Hub. Co-Lab’s Managing Director, Clyne Albertelli, and RAICo’s Director, Dr Kirsty Hewitson, began a discussion about the importance of quantifying value and impact. 

“We talked about what each of us were trying to achieve,” Albertelli recalls. “It became clear that Co-Lab’s approach to capturing benefits could provide a really useful lens on the impact RAICo’s innovations were having in real-world settings.” 

Co-Lab brings deep domain knowledge in nuclear decommissioning, having previously delivered similar work for organisations across the nuclear estate. That familiarity with the sector’s challenges made them a natural fit. 

Clyne Albertelli, credit: Co-Lab

Why Measuring Impact in Nuclear Is So Difficult 

Measuring the impact of R&D projects in nuclear decommissioning is notoriously difficult. With long timescales, enormous budgets, and high levels of safety and regulatory complexity, clear value measures are often elusive. 

“Decommissioning projects operate at huge scales, and money can feel abstract to the frontline teams delivering the work,” Albertelli explains.

“Demonstrating impact isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about connecting strategy to reality. Time saved, risk reduced, waste avoided; those things matter. It’s a cultural challenge as much as an analytical one. We believe that if you can make a problem visible, you can solve it. And if you can solve it, you can deliver it.” 

Making RAICo’s Impact Visible

Over nine months, Co-Lab worked with RAICo to analyse its portfolio, identify key project themes, and create case studies for those deemed to have delivered the highest value. That meant interviewing project leads, engaging with operators, and gathering granular data from the field, not just top-down financials.

“We’ve seen real, tangible benefits,” says Albertelli. “Cost reduction, waste reduction, and lower risk to human operators. We’ve demonstrated those benefits using data from local operating units, the specific, referenced values that make the numbers meaningful.”

For example, where a quadruped robot was deployed in a facility within a nuclear decommissioning site, Co-Lab looked at how many hours of human entry into hazardous zones were avoided, how much waste was collected, and what the cost savings were in reduced use of air-fed suits and associated materials.

“Local in this context means the actual site and scenario where a new technology is deployed,” says Albertelli. “That’s where you see the real value, when a robot takes on tasks in a hot cell, or when AI speeds up inspection cycles. We anchor the impact to real, specific use cases.”

Why Working with Local Suppliers Matters 

RAICo’s remit includes enriching the local economy, and working with organisations like Co-Lab is one way it delivers on that mission. The relationship also shows the practical advantage of local partnerships. 

“The fact that we’re embedded in the region, and have worked in frontline nuclear roles ourselves, makes a big difference.” 

That background enables Co-Lab to build trust quickly, access critical information, and understand operational challenges with credibility. 

“Our ability to pick up the phone to a facility manager we’ve worked with before — to get real-world insight into how a project is landing — is a key advantage. It’s about more than data; it’s about relationships.” 

Beyond Cost: A Broader Definition of Value 

Co-Lab’s approach is rooted in a multidimensional view of benefits, aligned with the sustainability principles of economic, environmental, and social value. This includes not just cost and time savings, but also carbon reduction, professional development, and knowledge transfer. 

“Too often, people focus only on pounds saved,” Albertelli says. “But this isn’t an accountancy problem — it’s a world-first challenge in nuclear decommissioning. Our job is to show the broader picture, including reduced emissions, and safer working practices.”

This approach aligns closely with RAICo’s mission: empower people to develop robotics and AI solutions that create opportunities for supply chains and deliver impact for industry and communities. 

On 20th August, colleagues from RAICo’s fifth and newest member, AWE Nuclear Security Technologies, paid their first full-day group visit to RAICo1. AWE joined RAICo in May 2025, bringing a 75-year heritage in nuclear safety and security innovation, and providing access to nuclear fission decommissioning sites where RAICo technologies can be tested and proven in real-world conditions. 

The visit

The visit to RAICo1 showcased technologies being developed across the RAICo programme – which ranged from health physics swabbing tools deployed on quadrupeds, to next-generation robotic glovebox concepts, to immersive virtual simulations built using RAICo’s simulation software capabilities.

As well as providing a technology showcase to RAICo’s newest member, it was an opportunity for AWE to see the potential of robotics and AI solutions in practice, inviting them to explore how they might address AWE’s own decommissioning challenges.

“It’s all well and good seeing things in PowerPoint slides, but seeing them in the flesh has given inspiration to how we could use these technologies on AWE sites,” said Luke Ankers, Team Leader Robotics and Smart Technologies at AWE.

“We’re really excited now to see the projects that AWE has helped shape going forward, and how they’re going to develop,” he adds. “We’re keen to have AWE staff up here helping RAICo understand our challenges. From there, we’d love to see the technology deployed on AWE sites. That’s obviously the end goal.”

Long-term opportunities and quick wins 

Among the demonstrations, AWE showed particular interest in RAICo’s work on glovebox automation, which Ankers saw as a long term programme but “one of the highest impact things we can do to reduce risks to AWE staff”. 

But the trip also highlighted several nearer-term applications..“The haptic control devices, the developments in quadrupeds, and health physics monitoring – these are all things we feel we could implement on our sites really quickly, getting immediate benefit from our membership of RAICo,” says Ankers. 

Strengthening collaboration 

Attendees on both sides were keen to note that the visit reinforced the value of RAICo’s collaborative model in accelerating innovation for nuclear decommissioning. On the one hand, the event showcased innovations AWE could use. On the other, it helped RAICo understand AWE’s areas of interest and challenges. Ultimately, this helps ensure the programme delivers deployable solutions. 

Dr Salvador Pacheco-Gutierrez, Head of RAICo Technology, concludes: “This is what RAICo is all about. Getting everyone together so that the people working in decommissioning can see what’s possible, get inspired, and share their challenges, then looking together at what we’ve developed, or what we could develop, to help provide solutions.”